la la la SPLAT!

Not a whole lot going on in good ol' Norman.  Sister and momma have been busy around the house doing house stuff, but me?  I do homework and read.  I dislike helping around the house, especially if it's in 100F weather.  Nooooo thank you. 

My trip to Texas last weekend fell through, as did the trip that was supposed to happen this weekend.  Oh wellski. 

We leave on Monday to go to Alabama til the 13th/14th to help the G-pa move into a new abode.  It should be fun. 

I signed up for the Praxis on July 24th!  Hopefully this time I will actually make it to the place ON TIME.  I'm definitely planning on leave 3 hours before just to be on the safe side. 

All of my visa work is out of my hands and in places getting done.  I'm thinking that when I go to VA (end of July) I will go get everything notarized and just get my Kuwait visa then.  Daddy did it when he and momma were getting their visa work done, and it took maybe 3 days.  That sounds good.  If all goes well... Cross yer fingers!

It seems like life runs on luck.  Bad luck or good luck, life runs on it.  How spooky.

Peace, love, & luck.

These Shoes

These shoes.  These sneakers.  I bought them sometime in 2010(?) while I was in Korea because, well, I needed a new pair.  I thought they were super cool and clean looking and was told they'd be good for running, which I had, at the time, fully intended on doing with them. I have ran in them, don't get me wrong, but I have also been and done many more things in/with them.  Here are a few:

• hiked Hallasan on Jeju-do in Korea
• hiked Dobongsan in Korea
• trampled around Hanoi
• hiked a mountain on Monkey Island in Vietnam
• traveled by plane pretty much everywhere I've been since
• trampled around Rome, Venice, Greece, Croatia, and Monaco last summer
• hiked Mt. Vesuvius in Naples, Italy
• trampled around Kuwait
• tromped through Jordan - Petra, mainly
• hiked around Lake Thunderbird, Oklahoma
• hiked in the Shenandoah mountains
• ran (fahreal) in Korea, USA, and Kuwait
• worked out in the 7th Heaven Gym in Kuwait (super popular hot-spot)

... And I'm sure others, but that's all I can recall at the moment.

The reason for this post dedicated to my sneaks is because I will probably have to invest in a new pair soon, as these poor babies are falling apart at the seams.  I just hope my next pair and I have such a tight, close, and awesome relationship as these.

Peace, love, & totes awes sneaks

Side note: I probably won't invest in a new pair this summer, so there's still time for more cherished memories. 

America

Hot dog!  (mmmm, I love hot dogs)  I'm in Oklahoma, folks!

Not a whole lot going on here, except for a crap ton of procrastinating (no worries, parentals - I am getting some work done!).  I've made a list of things I need to do this summer and it's a daunting list.  I'm a bit nervous, but I think I can manage since I've nothing else to do except my classes...

Speaking of classes, because I'm in the "vacation" mood, I so do no want to do any work.  It's awful.  I'm lucky, though, that sister is going into work today which means I will hopefully get some work done.  No no, not hopefully, I WILL!  I MUST!

Anywhos, we went to Plano this past weekend, and it was quite enjoyable.  Hung out on the lake on Saturday and soaked up the sun, tres nice.  We have even made it to the pool [once] and soaked up even more sun!  Yay for sun-kissed skin!  And I believe I will be making my way back down to Dallas this weekend to see some fabulous people I haven't seen in a year to OVER a year!  I'm so stoked.  James, Peter, and Jason, hooray!  It should be quite an entertaining time.  I only wish KatieDale was gonna be here, but it is too expensive to fly down on such short notice.  No worries, though.  :)  PEBBLES, KD!

That's all for now, folks!  See y'all latah!

Peace, love, & southern accents.

Ramblings Bamblings.

Oh man.  Guys, I'm in America. 

I flew from Kuwait to Abu Dhabi (for 3ish hours) to Chicago (for 6ish hours) and then I'm going to Oklahoma City.  I'm currently sitting in Chicago's airport, kinda smelly and really exhausted, but I have befriended some crazy awesome ladies from Dallas/Ft Worth who are keeping me entertained with their conversations. 

Because my flight isn't for another 4ish hours, I don't know where my gate is yet, so I'm kinda just sitting next to the food court.  Fun times.  I had a coffee and now I'm wired.  And I want M&Ms.  Or Dairy Queen.  Hmm, I wonder if they have a DQ here... that would be SPLENDID.

People in America are so much more friendly than people in the Middle East.  Just sayin'.  And they are less pushy.  That's nice.

I kind of wish I had worn something nicer and done my make up, then maybe I would make friends that are boys.  Oh well.

I can't wait to shower.

There is a girl sitting across from me, probably my age.  She's as big as my leg.  And I feel like my leg isn't that fat, too.  So that means she must be reaaaaallllly skinny. 

People in America show a lot more skin than people in the Middle East do.  I was talking to Susie about this earlier this week and how living in Kuwait makes you a prude.  So true.  Every time I see more than the knee and below, I freak out for a second, like "Why isn't she wearing any clothes?!  She needs to put more clothes on!"  Then I remember I'm in America and it's okay for them to dress like that. 

I would walk around, but there isn't much to see here... So I guess I'll just sit and read, maybe.  I started Fifty Shades of Grey.  Holy moly.  I'm almost done with the book!  I couldn't put it down, seriously!  It's really good.  I'm going to have to download the next one as soon as I finish this one. 

I feel like airports should have a room just full of really comfortable pillows where people like me, who hang out in airports half the day, can sit/sleep while waiting for the next flight.  That would be a smart move on their part, I feel. 

I should probably invest in some lotion and water soon.  I'm feeling quite dehydrated.  Speaking of dehydrated, on my flight from Abu Dhabi to Chicago, every time I started a new movie/tv show, the same commercial for Pocari Sweat would come on and tell me that we lose a lot of liquid from our bodies while we fly and that water isn't enough and we should drink this drink.  It was annoying and, I'm pretty sure, untrue.  But what do I know?!

Last thought of this post: a lot of people have liked my Facebook status. 

That is all.

Peace, love, & coffee.

Sandy Days in Kuwait = Rainy Days in USA

I feel like it's been awhile since I've written in here, but I guess there isn't much new going on to write about. 

Sarah left Kuwait on Friday night and has arrived safely.  Katie is now back in the States for the summer, too.  I can't wait to see her!  Ugh!  My life will be complete! 

I dyed Emily's hair this weekend.  It isn't as dark as I thought it was going to be, but I think it's a great change!  Makes me want to go out and buy some more hair dye, too.  Maybe this week!

Dust all weekend long.  Like craycray dust, people.  Woke up this morning and it was B-E-A-UTIFUL! then the dust rolled in.  Kids were being pulled out of school and each class had maybe half the kids there.  Craycray. 

School is wrapping up here.  Exams start this week, so I'm tutoring my booty off til Tuesday then khallas for the year, probably.  Hoping the families I'm with this year will want to hold on to me for next year, too.  That'd be pretty sweet.  After Tuesday, I can concentrate on making lists (and not following them) on what needs to be done before the States and in the States this summer. 

Anywhos, that's about it.  My last weekend in Kuwait for this year is coming up and then I'm on a plane to the States in the wee hours of Thursday the 14th.

Peace, love, & sandy days 

The coolest/weirdest tutor

I'm pretty sure the kids I tutor either think of me as the coolest tutor ever or the weirdest tutor ever. 

Examples:
1. I can rap Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne just as well as they can, if not better.
2. I want to play their English board games they make in class.
3. I watch Disney Channel stars on YouTube with them.
4. I teach them new ways of studying (i.e. flashcards & flashcards on a key ring) and then tell them to read the notecards before they go to bed, when they wake up, when they eat, and any other time they can.
5. I know stuff about Science even though I tell them I don't.
6. I share stories with them.
7. I talk to their parents.
8. I say "Sup?", "homie", and "dude"
9. I have a smartphone, but no 3G
10. I tell them to not worry about wasting paper (sorry, tree-huggers)

Peace, love, & not-cool smartphones.

A Contemplative Post

Hellooooooo!

Last night the family had a relatively late night and so everyone (but me) is still sleeping at 8:35 on a Friday morning.  This has given me adequate time to do some homework, read some blogs, and think.  YAY!

These are some of the things I was thinking:

1. This time last year, I was getting ready to leave Korea in about 10 days time and start my summer adventure in Vietnam, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Monaco, California, OK, and VA.  I honestly can't remember how I was feeling at this time last year except for probably overwhelmed and maybe a little disappointed in myself that I didn't give Korea more of a chance.  Se la vie, I suppose.

2. I realized last night, that I have found (with help from the rents) a great group of people here in Kuwait.  You wanna know how I realized that?  I said the WEIRDEST most non-sensical thing and they didn't really judge me too much and I didn't feel embarrassed.  That's always a good sign that you've found good people. 

3. I feel good.  I feel happy.  I am happy.  It has been a great deal of help having my parents here and helping me with the transition to this completely different world than any other world I've been in and I have to give them most of the credit for that.  But, yea, I'm happy.  I'm teaching, I'm going to school, and I'm [hopefully] making lasting friendships, while continuing to build older friendships as well. 

4. I am grateful.  This sort of coincides with #3, but whatever.  I'm grateful that I there are still some friends of mine from college and definitely friends of mine from travels that like to keep in touch just as much as I do.  I am grateful for the opportunity to experience a new place and grateful for the chance to travel and make my dreams come true!

5. This isn't as serious.  A really really really good friend of mine will most likely be teaching in China next year and just so happens to have the month of January and February off.  I have the month of February off.  This means we will probably end up reunited in a new place :) Also, another new friend of mine that I have grown quite close to will also be in China and will be able to travel, too!  I feel so lucky!

That's it.  I thought I heard someone stirring, but nope.  Nada.  Oh well.

Peace, love, & happiness.

5 Things

Fun/Cool Things from this week so far (it's only Tuesday!)

1. Yesterday, I was the only substitute in my "old" class, KG1L, so I didn't see my newest class, KG1D/S, unless it was in the hall or whatever.  Anyways, Khaled from KG1S saw me and yelled out, "MISS SOPHIE!" and was waving the ASL symbol for "I love you."  AWWW.

2. Also, yesterday, I was reading KG1L a story during circle time then asked them about rhyming words.  I prompted them with 'run' and got 'bun' (way to go!) then prompted them with 'kick' and got 'dick.'  HAHAHAHA.  Except I couldn't laugh because the principal, Ms. D, was in the class.  Dammit.

3. This morning, I saw Ms. D (principle) and she was smiling and said, "You did a great job yesterday!"  MWAHAHA.  Suckas.

4. This one isn't as awesome, but it's sorta awesome.  I have been on recess duty this week and was squatting against the wall talking to a student when I saw Abdullah from my "old" class and waved.  Suddenly he was up and running towards me with a devilish grin on his face.  I had an inner dialogue conflict thingie where one part of me was saying, "STAND UP!" and the other was like, "Naw, he's not going that fast..."  Then I got whammed into, knocking my head really hard against the wall twice!  And then I cut my lip.  So now I have cuts on my inner lip.  Awesome.  I had to go to the nurse.  No, I did not cry.

5. Dust storm!

Peace, love, & gritty sandwiches.

Inside a Coconut (aka: me)

Hola people.

It seems like this weekend has flown by.  How unfortunate. I'm getting a lot of mixed feelings about the rapid approach of summer.  Long story short: sometimes I can't handle being around everyone for too long.  Wears me down.  In a good way!  Of course. 

Anywhos, my second masters course pretty much has been wrapped up and I start my new one on Tuesday, so I've had a lot of free time this weekend and it's nice.  Spent a great night out with great people at the Embassy on Thursday, went to the Kuwait Aquarium on Friday (btw, if you don't know me, I LOVE aquariums... Like LOVE so much, I could sit there for a really long time), tutored this morning and will be picking up my other skirt from the souk tonight.  The rest of the family went scuba diving this morning, so I snagged that opportunity to catch up on tv shows aka season finales.  How disappointing. 

Random thought: I've been seriously thinking about getting scuba certified here.  I think I know someone else that is interested, so that would be really swell if I didn't have to do it alone cos the thought of being underwater with a metal tank attached to my back sort of gives me the heebie jeebies.  But yeah, might as well try it, right??  I think so.

Here's a cool quote I for sure dig:

Peace, love, & rock 'n' roll.

Cool beans... A dull post.

Hola people-that-read-my-blog!

This will be a somewhat dull post because there hasn't been too much excitement since the weekend (no worries, I'm still in a great mood)!!  This week has been a normal one, except that my sister flew in on Sunday evening!  Wahoo.  And today I visited my new school for next year and learned a lot, including I (most likely) have THREE WEEKS off in February!  Wahoo.  Oh, and sister and I went to Avenues for lunch today and I left my Ipod with some people to get the screen fixed!  So I guess there are more exciting things that have happened this week than I thought!  How exciting.

Anywhos, here's something super cute:

And here's something that I think would be fun to do one day:

Peace, love, & excitement